For this trip to the National Cycling Centre I chose my Arkose. There was no reason for this trip other than wanting to and having nothing better to do. I loaded up my panniers, checked my tyre pressure, entered the route into my phone. Set to do as little on roads as possible I set off from my home just North of Macclesfield. A few suburban roads and then on to the Middlewood way for seven and a half miles to Marple. Through Marple I followed National Cycle Route 55 where it terminated in Stockport. So far the route had been rather uneventful. I did meet a family in Marple trying to follow the route and gave information which reassured them they were on the right path.
I made my way to Stockport Road West which I followed until I my turning down Welkin Road. This led me to my next bit of off road pathway, which took me under the M60. I wish I took some pictures because it was the the most decrepit looking part, with cycle gates (credit) standing independently off the edge of the tarmac. Graffiti donned the walls of the tunnels and dying foliage was creeping on to the pathway with bits of branch offering a different route than that designed. I felt like this was the perfect place to be jumped, so I kept a quick pace and didn't stop.
When I emerged from the other side of the tunnels I was met with a near 30% gradient. Thankfully it was short; only a couple of hundred yards. Next my journey took my through a rather dreary and damp tunnel underneath Brinnington Road which joined me on to National Cycle Route 62, otherwise known as the Trans Pennine Trail. From here I started to miss turnings which extended my tourney and slowed my pace a lot, eventually causing me to almost double my expected time from Google Maps. I followed route 62 until it split off in to route 6 taking me through through some rather confusing suburban roads.
My next challenge was to get from route 6, on road, to route 60, off road. There were no markings to be seen for this junction, so this took a bit of intuition and staring at my phone confusedly. Eventually I made it in to route 60, but in the wrong direction. After correcting my course I ran in to a gentleman battling his bike trailer through one of the glorious anti-cycling (credit) features littered around this country's National Cycle Network. Apparently Sustrans representatives were patrolling as he mentioned he'd queried them about these features. By the looks of his bike it had a hub gear. Along with the classic style bars and the trailer it looked to be a very decent utility bike.
As I followed route 60 it split off in to two paths. One that continued to be route 60 and one that terminated in to yet another suburb. Of course this was not sign posted and the most obvious route was actually the incorrect one. After correcting myself I went on to follow route 60 through a narrow path with low bridges and more anti-cycling features.
The path eventually connected to Ashton Canal. Thankfully the way was signposted at this point telling me to head west. The canal was an interesting mix of cobble, dirt track, concrete, stone and tarmac. Cobble was typically found at the locks, stone and concrete under bridges, tarmac (a welcome sight) was found at the final stretch up to the National Cycling Centre. The rest of the canal was dirt track, littered with puddles and small rocky sections. Not long before the tarmac section leading to the National Cycling Centre there was a small sign instructing cyclists to dismount (I also came to the realisation that there are often signs telling someone to get off a bike, but never to get on). Presumably this is due to the narrow pathway under a bridge only just big enough to fit two abreast. Should I have dismounted I surely would have taken up all the available space. There were also some pointless, very shallow, "steps" leading down. No trouble to me, but maybe for a dismount to someone elderly or less experienced.
Upon visiting the National Cycling Centre and its rather inadequate cycle parking (credit) I took to the café to relax. My arse had taken a beating. While it's nice to have routes void of motor traffic they are largely not suitable for a road bike/tyres or anyone with high tyre pressures. There were some smooth sections but those were littered with barriers so any momentum you garnered was frequently lost making the argument for high tyre pressures void. If I were to do this route again I would have my cyclocross tyres on at a pressure of around 60 PSI. I naively thought that my journey would benefit from high pressure slicks. I was tempted to walk in to Evans Cycles and lay down money for a Brooks saddle there and then.
After my peruse around Evans I took a look around the BMX track. I thought about taking a look at the velodrome, but decided I'd taken long enough attempting to get there and I did have another destination before home; Ikea. Ikea was just along the canal, so back over the uncomfortable dirt track and cobbles. As I made my way I ended up talking to an elderly chap and we got talking about bikes and such and he fondly remembered an old Dawes of his and admired the various features of my bike. I got the feeling he wasn't able to ride anymore, but liked to do so.
I finally got to my exit on to Lumb Lane, which would take me on to the A635 - my first forray in to busy traffic. It's a flat road so keeping pace with the traffic wasn't an issue, but I wanted to get back to off road routes as soon as I could. As eagerly as I was guided off the road I was guided back on. It seemed like a ruse just to get cyclists out the way as it wasn't even 100 yards. Google Street View currently shows the path in construction, but you can see the start with the lowered kerb here, and where it ends here. After that piss about I was able to get back off road after a little over 100 yards on the road. From there the only challenge to overcome was crossing roundabout exists.
Having gotten the small bits from Ikea I went to head home. According to Google Maps I wanted to take the Peak Forest canal to Stockport where I'd largely have the same ride back. The Peak Forest canal was probably the nicest canal of the three I've done (the others being Macclesfield and Asthon), though some parts left a little to be desired. During my travel I often checked my phone to make sure I didn't miss a turn. About halfway down I something caught me by surprise; a long narrow tunnel with no lighting. Luckily I can use the flash on my phone as a torch. Apparently I need my battery replaced because as soon as I exited the tunnel my phone decided I suddenly had no power left. Thankfully I caught up to a gentleman who informed me that this connected with Macclesfield canal, from which getting home is easy. Or so I thought. Apparently there's a large tunnel called Hyde Bank Tunnel which the path goes over. As I powered on up over this bridge the path split. I had no idea which way to go. Luckily I met another gentleman, called Sid, who happened to be going in the same direction as me. Sid guided me back to the canal and showed me a quick route back to the Middlewood way. We rode along the middlewood way until I had to come off where we parted ways.
Shortly after my phone died I lowered my tyre pressure as I accepted my fate at being stuck on canals. Wow. Everything was so comfortable! Why didn't I do this earlier? The lower pressure, especially with some company, made the final 10 miles or so back home seem far better. Thankfully I brought food with me as I was totally wiped out by the time I got home.
I need a better saddle if I'm going to do it again.